But pulls up the state government for neglecting law and order during protests

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (January 31) refused to stay the new Tamil Nadu act—derived through an ordinance signed by President Pranab Mukherjee (January 23)—keeping the bull-taming sport of Jallikattu alive in the state.

While giving a small concession to petitioners, the Compassion Unlimited Plus Action, the Animal Welfare Board of India, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals India and Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations, the apex court bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Rohinton Fali Nariman said: “We permit you to withdraw the interlocutory application and give you liberty to file an amended writ petition to challenge the constitutional validity of so and so act.”

The court also showed its displeasure at the massive protests that rocked Tamil Nadu, resulting in major violence and loss of property. It asked: “What was the necessity of road marches? There is a way to react. Tell the Tamil Nadu government that law and order is a primacy in a civilised society. There has to be silence and obeisance to Supreme Court judgements.”

The bench wants to study the legislation in this regard brought by the state government. The court said: “We have to see whether the legislation is against the judgement or not.”

Regarding the trouble, the lawyers from the state argued that “we are entitled to protest democratically. We have protested and the people can’t be stopped from protesting peacefully.”

Justice Nariman replied: “Protesting is different, but coming on the street and openly defying the Supreme Court order is intolerable.”

—By India Legal Bureau